Friday, February 29, 2008

Severn Cullis-Suzuki (born 1979) is an environmental activist, speaker, television host and author. She has spoken around the world about environmental issues, urging listeners to define their values, act with the future in mind, and take individual responsibility.[1]

In 1992, at the age of 12, Cullis-Suzuki raised money with members of ECO, the Environmental Children Organization (a group she founded) to attend the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro. Along with group members Michelle Quigg, Vanessa Suttie, and Morgan Geisler, Severn presented environmental issues from a youth perspective at the Summit, where she received a standing ovation for a speech to the delegates.[2][3] The group also addressed delegates at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). Here you can find the original speech transcript in English.

But in the 10 years since Rio, I have learned that addressing our leaders is not enough. As Gandhi said many years ago, "We must become the change we want to see." I know change is possible, because I am changing, still figuring out what I think. I am still deciding how to live my life. The challenges are great, but if we accept individual responsibility and make sustainable choices, we will rise to the challenges, and we will become part of the positive tide of change.

Here you can see a photo story where you can read and listen about more people like Severn who have fought for saving the world of making it a better place for everybody to live in peace and harmony.

Now, what do you think about what Severn said that day back in 1992? is is still something we have to worry about?

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Hello, everybody! For this term we are going to participate in a little project to help save the earth. Want to be part of it?... Well, first let's find out how you are contributing to destroy the earth... yeah, destroy the earth... that planet where we all live... yes.... that one!!!

This test allow you to know how much carbon dioxide you are producing with your lifestyle. Also, you can save your results and track your improvements. Pledge to take action and reduce your score. In other words, you can create your private and personal plan to contribute to save the earth.

Take the First Step!Get Your Score, and StartMaking a Difference Today!

As part of this little project, we will be discussing and learning new vocabulary related to climate change, and global warming. A good starter will be visiting some of the following sites to read and learn more about this interesting and important issue in our lives.

Some signs of climate change in our country:In Venezuela according to Climate Hot Map.org , of six glaciers in the Venezuelan Andes in 1972, only 2 remain, and scientists predict that these will be gone within the next 10 years. In December 1999. The heaviest rainfall in 100 years caused massive landslides and flooding that killed approximately 30,000 people. Total December rainfall in Maiquetia, near Caracas, was almost 4 feet (1.2 m), more than 5 times the previous December record. The high death toll was attributed to population growth in vulnerable areas and forest clearing on steep hill slopes.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Tonight at 10:31, we Marabinos will be able to look at the sky and be witnesses to one of the most beautiful nature phenomenon ... a lunar eclipse.

According to Wikipedia...A lunar eclipse occurs whenever the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, the Moon is always full near a lunar eclipse. The type and length of an eclipse depend upon the Moon's location relative to its orbital nodes. The most recent total lunar eclipse was on 28 August2007[1] where the sun, earth and moon were in total alignment. The initial stage started at 07:52 UTC, while the total eclipse began at 09:52 UTC giving it a bronze appearance, with reddish to blood red at its peak. Eastern Australia and New Zealand were in the perfect zone to view the total lunar eclipse or "blood moon"

According to La Verdad .... In Venezuela our eclipse will start at 8:04 pm and finally its reddish to blood look at 10:31. Then later at 10:30 the moom is going to reflect the rainbow colors in its surface, specially the red-orange. At 10:56, it would be the reddest i can be and at 11.21, it'll start the final phase of the eclipse that will end at 12:38. This eclipse is going to be observed all around the American continent.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

These are some tips I got from a great EFL site called About.com "Sometimes you need to say no when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks you to do something for them. Of course, saying just 'no' can be rather rude. Here are some of the most common ways to say 'no' nicely - or at least not rudely."

* Would you like to see a film tonight? I'm afraid I can't go out tonight. I've got a test tomorrow. * Why don't we have some Chinese food?Sorry, but I don't particularly like Chinese food. * How about taking a nice walk?I'd really rather not take a walk this afternoon. * Would you like to come to the museum with us?Thank you, but it's not my idea of a fun afternoon out. * Let's go for a driveSorry, I'm not really fond of driving for the fun of it. * Why don't you stay the night?That's very kind of you, but I really have to get back to the city.

NOTE: Notice how we often say 'thank you' in some way before refusing the offer. When someone makes an offer it is polite to first thank that person and then say no, often offering an excuse for not wanting or being able to do something. Just saying 'no' is considered very rude behavior indeed!

Last Wednesday, we celebrated Valentine Day in URBE. It was a bright, nice day, all over the campus you could feel it was a special day. We talked about it, and exercised it, too! As you can see in the scrapbook photos... it was a day full of love and friendship feelings.

Some people think, Valentine's Day is just another day to spend money.. maybe they are right, but maybe they are wrong... from what I know and saw that day at the university, I can declare that It is truly a special day, a day for hugs and good intentions as well as good wishes for everybody.. we should have more days like that!

Happy valentine to all that I couldn't hug that day... and from here a virtual hug to the world...

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Hello, There! Hope you are doing great! Well, This is to introduce a new tool that is going to help us upload our powerpoint presentations with audio and animations to internet. The good thing about this tool is that it is free and easy to use.

First, this is how you record your voice using PowerPoint:

Now, this is how you upload your voice presetation to internet and later pasted it to your blog:

This is an example of a powerpoint presentation by one of my students from level 1: Her name's Ruddy and this was her homework for unit 2 in her class.

Thursday, February 7, 2008

There's a heroIf you look inside your heartYou don't have to be afraidOf what you areThere's an answerIf you reach into your soulAnd the sorrow that you knowWill melt away

ChorusAnd then a hero comes alongWith the strength to carry onAnd you cast your fears asideAnd you know you can surviveSo when you feel like hope is goneLook inside you and be strongAnd you'll finally see the truthThat a hero lies in you

It's a long roadWhen you face your world aloneNo one reaches out a handFor you to holdYou can find loveIf you search within yourselfAnd the emptiness you feltWill disappear

Chorus

Lord knowsDreams are hard to followBut don't let anyoneTear them awayHold onThere will be tomorrowIn timeYou'll find the way

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

According to Wikipedia.... Carnival or Carnivale is a festival season. It occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February or March. It typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations.

Carnival is mostly associated with Roman Catholic. The world's largest carnival celebration is held in Brazil but many countries worldwide have large, popular celebrations.

In Venezuela, we celebrate the carnaval, or carnival. These festivities are celebrated with dance, music, balloons, family festivities, lavish costumes and parades and a great deal of joy.

Venezuela's biggest and best Carnival celebrations are in El Callao. In Maracaibo, there are some parades where children wear costumes. The most popular are: zorro, batman, spiderman, princess, mosquetero, rumbera, among others.

Hello, everybody! Hope you are having a relaxing time this Carnival break! Well, this is to invite you to visit the British Council Learn English Central site.... about themselves... they say:

LearnEnglish is not a 'course'. It doesn't have Unit 1 followed by Unit 2, etc. Instead, LearnEnglish is a like a restaurant with a long menu of learning activities. Today you might want to practise some grammar. Tomorrow you might want to play one of our games or read a story. Soup, meat or fish - you'll find them all here.

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"When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible but in the end, they always fall -- think of it, ALWAYS."

Mahatma Gandhi

"I write entirely to find out what I am thinking, what I am looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear"Joan Didion